5 November 2017

Nadine Shah - Holiday Destination

I
have no idea why I didn’t end up completing my review of Fast Food by Nadine Shah, I think I only found out about before a
blog deadline and had to miss out reviewing it.This is one of many regrets I have for this blog, as it’s a brilliant
album.One which gets a regular play in
ATTIWLTMOWOS tower (I say tower, it is a flat) as it's great album.Sadly, sometimes you find this out long after
the event, and I almost did the same with her latest release, Holiday Destination.In the last few months, Ms Shah has toured
the UK and played in some impressive venues, next year she will be playing the
London Roundhouse with support from Beth Orton.There is a buzz from the lady from Whitburn, it’s hard to ignore when
strangers and friends are telling you she is the best thing since slice bread –
not that I needed to be told, I just an extra 8 hours a day to do each review.Released in August 2017 on 1965 Records, Holiday Destination is her third studio
album and it is my pleasure to finally review this album.

01 – Place Like This

“Place Like This” starts with the subject of refugees, people who are having to
flee their homes and families due to war and require sanctuary, and when they
arrive in foreign lands, they are treat like criminals.It’s asking for people to put themselves in
their shoes, to see the world through their eyes.This is a powerful opening for Holiday Destination, a song that leaves
a lasting effect on this listener long after it has finished.

02 – Holiday Destination

Oh my deity, “Holiday Destination” has quite possibly made a late bid for being
the song of the year.It’s a song about
how the world is slowly but surely, turning into a fucked-up place with locals
being pushed out, holiday makers taking over the world and refugees being found
in the water.Musically, this is a
subtle number with a huge bass sound, Ms Shah’s vocals are enthralling on this
number.It’s one of the best songs of
2017, and we are only two numbers into this album.

03 – 2016

“2016” is a double edge song; it looks at the way the body can dictate how you
feel, reaching a certain age and you are not in control of your emotions and
the inner turmoil that occurs after 30.It also bemoans the loss of artists in 2016 and the fact we have an
orange-tiny handed bastard in the White House.It looks at both subjects and speaks about them with a refreshing
frankness and it sounds like these scenes must be seen to believed.It's another impressive song, another that
stays with you long after it has finished.

04 – Out the Way

“Out the Way” is a dark song, one which deals with discrimination and
prejudice, making no bones about some of the things that have been thrown at Ms
Shah, and it makes me ashamed to be a human being that this sort of thing is
still happens.It’s a hard-hitting song,
musically it is sinister, and it sounds fantastic; but you are not going to get
comfort from this song and that is rightly so.Something are not meant to be comfortable, they are meant to instigate
change, and this song is one of those that such instigate such change, what a brilliant number.

05 – Yes Men

“Yes Men” has an obvious message, it's about someone who has surrounded
himself with people who do not say anything that this man doesn’t want to here,
he surrounds himself with praise and there is a sadness to this song.There was love in this relationship at some point, but it could not survive
without confrontation.After this message , it also takes a look towards the modern political world, with a large degree of grace and
sadness.This is another stunning number
once again from Ms Shah, slow paced and full of drama.

06 – Evil

“Evil” is a chilling song on how what it feels like to be held with contempt,
cast as an outsider due to either their skin, the way they speak or the fact
they are not from the same side of the street as them.This song is hard hitting, equal to any song
on this album, it does not hide you from the horrors that have been witnessed
first-hand and it’s a beautiful song.It’s a tragedy that this song needs to be created in this day and age,
but it's also an expertly crafted tune and it hits you where it hurts each time.

07 – Ordinary

“Ordinary” is song with a subtle anger at its core, the anger behind the song is hidden in the gentle
music which is almost happy (a sort of nod to the Smiths there), and where
neighbours turn people away from their doors due to differences.It’s a decent enough tune, without being as
hard hitting as other songs on this record.A rare miss on this quality album.

08 – Relief

“Relief” is a damning condemnation on the sedentary lifestyle that humanity
seems to embrace, where we listen to the messages on the TV scene, images in
magazines and trolls on the internet which drag us down further into misery.The music is compelling, the feeling of claustrophobic
environment is an ever-present presence on this song and it sounds fantastic,
it’s another gem in this treasure trove.

09 – Mother Fighter

“Mother Fighter” is a song about the struggles that all women will face, how
they must grow up fast and how they must fight for everything that they own,
whilst being the provider for children.It’s a fierce number, one with a steely determination and it’s played
with that same level of passion and drive that has been the hallmark of this
record, it’s up there with the title track in terms of passion and performance.

10 – Jolly Sailor

“Jolly Sailor” is a song about drinking songs, tune that are played when you
are blowing off steam after a week of work, but everything eventually falls
apart towards the end as the drinker passes out.It holds a different vibe to the rest of the
album, it’s a piece of art to reflect your nights that have been wasted with a
bottle, the evenings that started with promise and ends with a swirling vortex
into the void of sleep.Sadly, I can
identify with this song (not so much now, age gives you a sense of perspective),
but this is a brilliant piece of music to end the album.

When you think of Nadine Shah, you cannot think of her in terms of this
pop-star or this current band.You need
to look towards artists like PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell when looking
for reference points, for people who are equal in stature, as well as male
contemporaries such as Tom Waits, Nick Cave and other people who have forged
their own paths throughout the years.Her voice is uniquely Northern, you cannot mistake the accent to her
singing and for me, it sounds like home (mainly because she was born just south
of where I live).The music behind the
vocals is just as important, supporting her visions with a beautiful
performances that never swamps Nadine singing, these perfomances showcasing her message and making sure we
know what is important.She is not
afraid to speak her mind; no subject matter is out of bounds and she is willing
to be a voice for the down trodden and oppressed people who are shunted from
door to door.This is a brave record, a
unique one as well and my joint favourite political statement of the year with
Maximo Park’s Rise to Exist.It's just shy of a perfect record, but this is
still going to be high in my end of year chart.In years to come, Holiday Destination will be looked at as the album that
launched Nadine Shah's career to bigger heights.

Welcome to the final round-up review of 2017! Similar to the Round-Up posts I put up earlier in the year, I’m going to be posting some bull...

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0 - This is proof there is no deity1 - You're really are touching the bottom of the barrel with this one2 - If only there was some quality control3 - It could have been a bit better4 - Well it's alright, but still......5 -Not for everyone but played well6 - Now I see where you were going, but it's not quite there7 - This is good and well worth a check8 - Oh, now you have my attention and maybe my money, time and heart9 - Almost perfect....Almost10 - This is proof there is a deity(For albums that are too crazy to be marked)Crazy Cat symbol - This album cannot be marked, so here is a box of kittens

Singles/EP Marking System

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